Nutrition & Dietetics

The Dietetic Technician major prepares the student for employment as a Dietetic Technician,
for membership in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and for eligibility to take
the national registration exam to be credentialed as a Dietetic Technician Registered
(DTR). The program consists of five semesters (2 years) of full time study, which
leads to an Associate of Applied Science Degree. The Dietetic Technician major provides
quality learning experiences to enhance initial employment opportunities, and to improve
technical and supervisory skills for career advancements in food service and nutrition
care.

After successfully completing the course of study, the graduate is qualified to work
in healthcare facilities under the guidance of a Registered Dietitian. Major responsibilities
may be assigned in the area of foodservice management, teaching food and nutrition
principles or nutrition care. The Dietetic Technician is expected to be able to assume
a leadership role in a nutrition services department or related program.

The Path to Becoming a DTR

To become credentialed as a Dietetic Technician Registered (DTR) you will need to
complete the following steps:

1. You must graduate from an accredited dietetic technician program such as the one
at Columbus State. At Columbus State you will need to complete all courses in the
curriculum. These include general, basic and technical course work, as well as 450
hours of supervised practice. Many of the courses require a grade of “B” or “C” to
proceed to another course. Specific information about each course can be found in
the College Catalog course descriptions.

2. After you have qualified for graduation and received the Associate of Applied Science
(A.A.S.) degree, the program advisor will submit documentation to the Commission on
Dietetic Registration (CDR) stating you are eligible to take the national examination
to become a Dietetic Technician Registered (DTR). Several weeks later you will receive
information from CDR to complete and submit to the American College Testing Service
(ACT) along with the required fee. ACT will then send you documentation that allows
you to go to a designated testing center and take the computerized examination within
the next year. You will know whether or not you passed immediately.

3. The next step is to maintain the DTR credential. Life long learning is a necessary
way of life to be a knowledgeable professional. You will need to develop a Professional
Portfolio in which you will establish educational goals to guide your continuing education
for the next five years. After each five year period you will develop new goals for
yourself. As you progress through each five years period you will need to document
what you do to achieve your goals.

Graduates of the Dietetic Technician Major will be able to:

Maintain appropriate standards of professionalism, including ethical behavior and
adherence to dress and grooming codes required for the industry.

Set and maintain high quality service standards for satisfying diverse customers.

Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills with management, employees
and customers.

Apply nutrition principles to menu planning and food production for a variety of customers.

Modify diets and menus to meet the needs of persons requiring texture, energy and
nutrient modifications.

Gather and analyze diet history data and apply this information to nutrition care
planning for persons on normal and modified diets.

Provide basic nutrition education for individuals and groups.

Plan, organize, and supervise the production and service of food and beverage to customers.

Define concepts and procedures for purchasing, receiving, storage and inventory; and
develop specifications for purchase of food and non-food items.

Produce high quality food products using appropriate ingredients and equipment.

Demonstrate knowledge of and an ability to comply with laws, rules and regulations
governing foodservice and healthcare operations.

Monitor and analyze quality of patient care and foodservice operations.

Dietetic Technician Curriculum

Students may enroll in classroom (didactic) courses for the program during any semester.
However, the initial Practicum course begins in the Autumn term only (see Admission
and Application sections for further details). There are no Practicum classes scheduled
during the Summer semester.

The program welcomes part time students. To complete the curriculum in the most timely
manner, this person must closely coordinate course selection with the program advisor.

The curriculum is composed of classroom (didactic) courses and supervised practice.
The Ohio Board of Regents (OBOR) sets the standards as well as ACEND (the Accreditation
Council for Education in Nutrition & Dietetics). The supervised practice component
must be made up of a minimum of 450 hours. These hours are covered in the practicum
courses and selected laboratory courses on campus.

During the four practicum courses you will participate in a variety of healthcare
settings. The course instructor will assign you to a site. Every consideration is
taken to make this a compatible, convenient and educational experience as possible.
This is an experience guided by the requirements of the course and is unpaid.

Practicum (supervised practice) courses are designed to give you the opportunity to
apply the information you learn in the classroom. The activities will focus on active
participation as well as the completion of written reports.

Articulation Agreements - Transfer your credits

Articulation agreements have been developed between other education programs and Columbus
State. There are agreements with some high school level programs that will give credit
for a few of the entry level technical courses such as the Serv Safe course. If you
have completed technical courses related to food service in your high school program,
you need to meet with the program advisor to determine if any meet the objectives
of courses at Columbus State. A prior learning portfolio may need to be developed.

Articulation also applies to continuation of your education after receiving your degree
at Columbus State. The Dietetic Technician Program has an articulation agreement with
the Dietetic Program in the Department of Human Nutrition at The Ohio State University
for those students interested in becoming a Registered Dietitian.

An articulation agreement is also available for the Dietetic Technician program and
the Healthcare Management Degree Program at Franklin University.

If further education is your long term goal, you should contact the Dietetic Technician
Program Advisor for more information and guidance.